Harlow MP Robert Halfon champions National Apprenticeship Week

MONDAY marked the start of National Apprenticeship Week with apprenticeships up and down the country being praised.

This annual event brings the whole apprenticeship community together to celebrate the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.

Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, has long been a champion of apprenticeships and has recently employed his sixth Parliamentary Apprentice, Dan Swords.

When asked about his apprenticeship, Dan said: “To get a qualification and the skills whilst being paid is a dream come true. My current role is up-skilling me at the same time as being on the frontline of Westminster politics and it’s great to have a boss like Robert who is a real champion of apprenticeships.

“I had considered doing a degree at university but I was never sure if it was right for me. The best thing about my apprenticeship is that I’m able to get real first-hand experience of a workplace and learning so much at the same time.”

Robert Halfon adds: “National Apprenticeship Week provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the great role that apprentices can play in a workplace. Apprenticeships allow an individual to earn while they learn and get a real feel for a working environment.

“It’s great to see that so many Harlow residents are starting apprenticeships as these can provide people with the skills to climb the ladder of opportunity.”

In Harlow, there have been 2,990 apprenticeship starts since 2014/15 with 49% of these apprenticeships being taken up by people aged 25 or older.